After TEN years of having an unnecessary grudge against Jennifer L. Armentrout (JLA) I have been absolutely binging her books this year. I wouldn't beAfter TEN years of having an unnecessary grudge against Jennifer L. Armentrout (JLA) I have been absolutely binging her books this year. I wouldn't be surprised if she's my most-read author so far.
The Dark Elements series has been recently republished and rebranded as an adult paranormal romance series and I decided to give it a shot considering I've been loving JLA's Covenant series. I didn't realize there was a prequel novella, so I quickly bought it on Kindle! I WISH this cover was something I could get physically as I LOVE a pink book!
Bitter Sweet Love follows the love story of Jasmine and Dez who were in love with each other as kids and when it was announced they were to be mated he disappeared and left her alone for three years with no contact. Now, he's back– older, hardened, and dreamier than she remembered. Not to mention her feelings haven't left and he wants her back. Dez has a week to prove himself to Jasmine and help her complete her bucket list. For every task completed, he gets a kiss.
Cute, fun, I love love, yada yada yada. Excited for the rest of the series because I believe we get introduced to the main character of the trilogy in this book and WOWWWWW HER LIFE MUST SUCK....more
The hype for this book is REAL and I've wanted to read it since it was announced to be published. The first night I read this on my Kindle, which I exThe hype for this book is REAL and I've wanted to read it since it was announced to be published. The first night I read this on my Kindle, which I exclusively read at night, I was FREAKED the fuck out. I'm talking about the first 30 pages that were so unsettling and ominous that I had nightmares for the first time in years.
Since then, I completely put off reading the book at night in fear yet another sleep paralysis demon would visit me, however, after struggling to pick up my Kindle in the daytime since my slump has already forced me to neglect my physical books. Last night, I decided to put on my big girl pants and just hope I don't piss my pants.
This was a quick read. The story essentially follows a queer couple, Eve and Charlie, who flip houses for a living and get a deal on a BEAUTIFUL older house. When a family approaches Eve at the door of their house saying they'd love to visit the home their dad grew up in, against her better judgment Eve can't say no. However, the family doesn't seem to get the hint that they need to go and Eve may or may not be going crazy.
Even though I did get freaked out a LOT throughout the first 60%, I found the last 40% to be kinda lame. This has been SO HYPED and while I don't think the concept "over-hyped" exists, this definitely ended up not being for me. I was SO sure I was going to love this book, but it didn't meet my expectations and that is completely my fault.
Overall this is fine and I'm not really pressed I spent $16 on this e-book because I would've spent $16 on the physical copy anyways. I will personally never be caught dead by a Kindle book for full price ever again, but at least it scared me! ...more
A bit of a backstory, but From Blood and Ash was a series I could confidently say I'd never pick up. Then, a few months ago I discovered Emmy Rosam, @A bit of a backstory, but From Blood and Ash was a series I could confidently say I'd never pick up. Then, a few months ago I discovered Emmy Rosam, @whatemmyreads on YouTube and she LOVES this series. I am obsessed with her videos and they're the reason I'm back in my romantasy era.
As we all know, because I never shut up about it, I'm a bookseller in what is probably the world's smallest Barnes & Noble. This means, the most popular main genre in our store, Romance, is overflowing and we don't have enough room for everything. When my coworker was moving the books around, Jennifer L. Armentrout (JLA) takes up A LOT of real estate and I told her to put From Blood and Ash aside for me as I wanted to try it out. Plus the hardcovers are so nice.
A mistake was made there as this woman is a VULTURE and can sell you/ peer pressure you into doing anything. That led from me getting one book to saying "If we have the whole series I'll get them all" IDIOT! We ended up having all TEN books on our shelves and my boyfriend decided to get them for me as a gift since he was picking me up from work. (Tangent: but the second I bought these books that literally have been on our shelves for AGES, not even a second after my receipt is handed to me someone calls into the store asking for the entire series... WHAT ARE THE ODDS.) $160 later, I am ten books richer and decided to jump into this series that day because I would not let an entire ten-book universe rot on my shelves.
Now, to the review.
From Blood and Ash is a new adult fantasy romance set in a world where there are Ascended and Descended. The Descended are essentially the rebel group to those who have Ascended, and those who do ascend are chosen and blessed by the gods. Our main character, Penellaphe or Poppy, is the queen's favored and the Maiden. Meaning she is not to be seen, touched, or spoken to, and is forced to keep her purity, innocence, and virginity. Poppy can't read certain books, she can't date, she can't be seen in certain places all to be used as a sacrifice.
Her life is essentially dull until she decides to sneak out to have one night of recklessness where she meets Hawke. Poppy thinks nothing of it until Hawke becomes a member of her guard, and when the guard sworn to protect her dies, Hawke takes his place. For once in Poppy's life she is seen as not the maiden, but Poppy, and thus a dangerous game between Hawke and Poppy plays out. But with a rebellion on the rise and enough bloodshed for Poppy to swim in, these two sneaking around is the least of their worries.
This was honestly really solid. I've been in a bit of a reading slump and novels have not caught my attention since finishing Reckless by Lauren Roberts earlier this month. I do think this book is way too long for what it is. Most of it felt like filler and an introduction to a bigger plot. The first books in a series are meant to be the first impression to a reader and this didn't do much for me. I've heard the series falls off as the books go on and the Flesh and Fire series is the best, but I'm going to hold out hope because I think this universe has so much potential.
The romance gave me the ick for most of the book. Poppy is essentially this universe's version of a nun and it just felt weird to me that Hawke was breaking all these rules just to bang her. Obviously, they like each other and she's touch starved and they were both consenting adults. But I just found it icky that she is literally a 'nun' and he's like yeah I don't see you like that, here is my hard-on. Of course, it makes more sense towards the end and I'm happy someone actually gave Poppy a choice for once, but I was icked out that he was so hellbent on being with Poppy in that way. He told her his boundaries and she still went into it knowing everything.
I also think Armentrout focuses a lot on description in this series. You can tell the publisher she went with really gave her free reign because editing was needed. Something would happen in a chapter, then the next chapter was a "Here's everything you missed on GLEE" moment.
Overall, with the way this ended, I'm excited to get into book two. A three-star book is still a good book and I would genuinely give this a 3.5 if Goodreads allowed me to. I'm so curious to see where this goes and obviously kudos to this book for holding my attention in ways so many other books haven't this month. ...more
I read this solely because the first 50 pages of book one were confusing. I came here for clarity and I left even more confused. Like book one’s startI read this solely because the first 50 pages of book one were confusing. I came here for clarity and I left even more confused. Like book one’s start I also felt like I was walking on a sequel not the beginning, yk? ...more
RAVEN KENNEDY, ARE YOU SHITTING MY DICK RIGHT NOW?
In all the ways this woman could have ended this boplease excuse my profanity in this review, lads
RAVEN KENNEDY, ARE YOU SHITTING MY DICK RIGHT NOW?
In all the ways this woman could have ended this book, I did not expect it to be THAT. I really wondered how the hell book six was going to exist and then HERE WE ARE YOU MOTHERFUCKER. Not only did this book have my jaw on the floor more than once, but then you just HAAAADDD to end it like that. I am so upset that September 24, 2024, was not yESTERDAY!!!!!!
Now overall, I did enjoy this book a lot. I'd say I liked it more than book four, but I had a few issues that prevented me from rating this higher.
First of all, the smut scenes are so oddly placed. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read this series yet, but as the books go on more POVs and characters get introduced and with each POV they have a love interest, which is also silly because why does everyone need a lover, but eh. Like the last book, a character would be pouring their heart out or just getting out of a traumatic event, and then their love interest just decides that instead of comforting them with words and just being there, they're gonna bang each other and talk dirty instead. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
Secondly, this book is too long. To my understanding, authors get paid by the pages read when their books are on Kindle Unlimited and perhaps that is why this book is 640 pages, but it could have easily been 100+ pages shorter. The beginning was a bit slow for me, hence why I took ages to finish this book in comparison to the others. The pacing just felt so off, but the books do get bigger as the series goes on so I can't really compare a 350-page book's pacing to a 640-page one.
Other than those two nitpicks, I had a really great time. These books are just so fun and addictive and I love a 'good' villain. I'm going to be absolutely heartbroken once this series ends, so if anyone has any fantasy romance books that are similar in romance or binge-ability, let a gal know!!! ...more
DNF-ing because I'm just really not into this. I got halfway through and it's not my favorite. I've been anticipating this, but I don't want to push tDNF-ing because I'm just really not into this. I got halfway through and it's not my favorite. I've been anticipating this, but I don't want to push through knowing it won't get better for me. This is a really cool book, just not the book for me! ...more
I haven't had this much fun reading a book since the first time I probably read this book in elementary school. Nikki is the OG delulu Y/N dramatic quI haven't had this much fun reading a book since the first time I probably read this book in elementary school. Nikki is the OG delulu Y/N dramatic queen I aspired to be. Brandon and Nikki are also the OGs of slowburn romance. I remember I kept reading these solely because I thought Chloe was pretty and I needed to see Nikki be happily in love with Brandon. Considering the series is still ongoing, I'm going to assume they're still in their slowburn romance era.
I'm also on a mission to reread my favorite novels/ chapter books I read in elementary school and the Dork Diaries series is the first on my list to reread and then complete!!! There are currently 15 out and I'm hoping to read 1-3 of them a month. I'm also planning on rereading and finishing the Tales of Pixie Hollow series, Girl Online Trilogy, and the Goddess Girls series!
Yay to fun nostalgia! I'm so happy this didn't flop for me because I've already purchased so many of the series I've mentioned above lol ...more
this may be where i left off initially all those years ago because my elementary school library always had this series flying off the shelves.
Anywaysthis may be where i left off initially all those years ago because my elementary school library always had this series flying off the shelves.
Anyways I’m so excited to read the rest of the series!! I flew through these first three, but I’m not sure when my other two box sets will come in :( Hopefully soon!!! ...more
Aphrodite is my favorite of the main goddesses and this one was my favorite book as a kid!
Aphrodite is the goddessgirl of love and gets the most atteAphrodite is my favorite of the main goddesses and this one was my favorite book as a kid!
Aphrodite is the goddessgirl of love and gets the most attention from all the godboys at Mout Olympus Academy. She's pretty much over the constant attention and decides to give her bestie, Athena a makeover for the dance! What she didn't expect was that the godboys would stop paying attention to her and now drool over Athena, especially her crush, Ares. Can she put her jealousy behind her?
So so so much fun. This reading rutt I'm in is truly being conquered by rereading this series! On to the next! ...more
So cute!! I can't believe I still remember these books so vividly.
This installment follows Persephone who has finally found solace in a godboy named So cute!! I can't believe I still remember these books so vividly.
This installment follows Persephone who has finally found solace in a godboy named Hades. Hades actually listens to her and sees her, while Persephone puts on a front and people pleases when it comes to her mom and her best friends.
The lil romance storylines in these books are so cute. I am so pleasantly surprised that this series still holds up as an adult! ...more
The Goddess Girls series was one of my FAVORITES as a kid. I remember discovering them in my elementary school library and popularizing them with my cThe Goddess Girls series was one of my FAVORITES as a kid. I remember discovering them in my elementary school library and popularizing them with my classmates. We'd fight over who would get to read the sequels first so much that my mom bought me a Kindle so I could buy and read the books on there so I'd stop complaining.
Athena the Brain is the first installment in a huge middle-grade Greek mythology fantasy series. The series kicks off with Athena, daughter of Zeus, being invited to Mount Olympus Academy at 12 years old. Leaving her human life behind, she's finally found a place she feels like she could belong, yet Athena struggles to adapt; thinking she sucks at being a goddess girl. However, she meets new friends, and bullies, and figures out how to use her brain as a true goddess girl.
I am SO excited to reread and finish this series. Middle-grade rereads seem to be the only books able to hold my attention this month, so expect a lot more MG reviews this month, lol. I stopped reading the books at Medusa the Mean, book eight in the series, which means I have SO many I haven't gotten to! I own the first 10 books and the first 'super special' book (which was published right after book eight), so I'll be kept busy. The box set containing books 11-20 doesn't release until October 29th, so I may have to switch back to my Tinkerbell or Dork Diaries books after these!
This series was one of my FAVORITES as a kid even though I think I only read a few of them! Pixie Hollow/ Tinkerbell/ Fairies were my LIFELINE as a kiThis series was one of my FAVORITES as a kid even though I think I only read a few of them! Pixie Hollow/ Tinkerbell/ Fairies were my LIFELINE as a kid and I'm so happy I decided to revisit my favorites. My boyfriend bought me 23/24 of these books as an early anniversary gift and I'm so happy! These are so much fun. I'm mostly rereading/ finishing this series in preparation for the Queen Clarion x Lord Milori book coming out from Allison Saft in 2025 just so I'm fully into the Pixie Hollow-verse!
If you're a fan of the movies, these books don't follow that at all and also connect to Disney's Peter Pan which the movies didn't! This book just follows Tinkerbell, a pots and pans fairy who loses her hammer and suddenly feels like she loses her talent!
This was not what I expected, but also exactly everything I thought it would be, lol.
The Awakening follows Tory and Darcy, two twins who steal and doThis was not what I expected, but also exactly everything I thought it would be, lol.
The Awakening follows Tory and Darcy, two twins who steal and do whatever possible to make ends meet. When they get approached and later whisked away to Solaria, the fae realm, these two sisters find out they're the long-lost Gemini twins– the sole heirs to Solaria's throne. However, it isn't as simple as it sounds. Tory and Darcy must enroll in Zodiac Academy and be caught up to speed with what they've missed, but when they meet four boys, one of each element, they're in for more than they bargained for. With the royal line seemingly dead, one person from each element took on to become a part of the council and now these girls are taking away the entire life these boys knew.
I knew going into this the writing was not great and it's a bully romance, but you'll want to keep reading. I feel like at any time I could have put this book down and been okay with never picking it up again. With that being said, I still think I'm going to try the second one since I've heard that's got a revenge plot and I'm ALL for that. I guess I'll have to be convinced of the love interests as time goes on because I can't get behind a bully. Even if they're doing things just to 'show face' it's still so mean. I know they're taking your birthright, but you act like they asked for this!!!!
Starting this book was also an experience... I genuinely thought I was reading the wrong damn book. Eventually, you get to the point where you can tell you're starting a series, but at first, it felt like I walked into the middle of a pre-established series. I then read the prequel on my Kindle, and I figured that would give me answers, but it did not.
I was also surprised this was published in 2019 as the writing and the way these characters act, text, and talk are giving 2000's YA trashy urban fantasy romance.
Overall, The Awakening is an easy book to read, I mean I didn't expect this to be a literary masterpiece, but from the hype surrounding it I expected to become quickly obsessed and that's not how I feel currently. Once again, I'll still try the sequel, but I"m not obsessed.
I went into Glow on an absolute high after finishing one of the best fantasy romance books I've ever read, GlThis ending is for sure a lot to process.
I went into Glow on an absolute high after finishing one of the best fantasy romance books I've ever read, Gleam the previous novel in this series. I seriously thought that book was "she falls for the villain", but in this book he lets his actions speak louder than the words he spoke in Gleam, and WOW villains are so hot and cool, and fun! hehe
He REALLY kept his word when he said he'd be the villain for her; he did not hold back. This is the first book in the series, besides the shitty first book I have disowned, that felt too long. The other books were read in just a few days, but this was a book I could easily put down. I didn't mind the Slade, Auren, or Rissa POVs, but when it came to Queen Malina and Queen Kaila, those chapters would be the "ok I can go to bed now" moments. They were just BORING and way too long. I understand their purpose, but they weren't fun to read. This book also introduces a new romance between two side characters that I ate UP!!
To explain this series, book one sucks and is like a shitty prequel novella, book two is where the TRUE series comes to light and the sexual/ romantic tension is PHENOMENAL, and then book three happens and everything is turned up a notch. The romance is THERE and EXCITING, the plot has you at the edge of your seat, the smut is hot (lol), and THE VILLAIN GOOD LORD. Then there is book four. Book four is all about healing, smut, proving he'll be the villain for her, and of course, immediately knowing because of the end of book three that this book will be a shit show.
Once again, this book did drag for me and it felt like the first book in the series that was unnecessarily long. Book one wasn't great, don't get me wrong I gave it TWO stars, but it at least provided enough insight to carry on the series. It may have been one of the worst books I've ever read, but at least it was still page-turning!
I don't know what I'll do with my life when this series ends in September! I've just had so much fun reading! I already preordered the Walmart exclusive of book six and I hope it's the finale I've been hoping for....more
I had six of my friends recommend me twelve books to read this year and my bestie Sarah recommended me this gem! I didn't expect to give this a five-sI had six of my friends recommend me twelve books to read this year and my bestie Sarah recommended me this gem! I didn't expect to give this a five-star rating, but this exceeded my expectations greatly. I loved Darius' character and this book explored so much more than I had ever thought it did. I'm really sad I didn't read this book when it first came out because it was SO loved by BookTube! I would say I wish younger me had this book, but younger me needed more action than this book had. It was quiet, yet gutpunching.
I don't know if I'll continue the series, but I had such a blast reading this guy!! ...more
In times like these I get mad that I don't buy the entire series in one go because how am I supposed to wait a week to get book three in my hands?
It In times like these I get mad that I don't buy the entire series in one go because how am I supposed to wait a week to get book three in my hands?
It took me 50% of book one to get fully invested. I then bought this book, book two, and started it on the 17th, read 71 pages, and decided perhaps this series was not for me. Against my better judgment at the time, I decided to try this book again this week as I'm in my fantasy romance era and I could not be happier. It took me 100 pages to really get into this but by page 100 I did not put it down until I finished it. Now, I'm pressed because I don't have book three physically. I could read it on my Kindle, but I really enjoy the physical book experience as it is funnier when I giggle and kick my feet over words on paper.
This book was WILD. Diem actually reminds me a lot of Auren from the Plated Prisoner series! I'm currently reading through that one as well and they give me similar vibes. Both are badass, but takes a while to get there and I want to simultaneously cheer them on while also wanting to beat them with a stick, respectfully!
I knew going into this book that it was a slow-burn series, but I needed more of Luther and Diem immediately. I also need someone to viciously humble (or kill) the irrelevant childhood love interest I do not remember the name of.
I'm not the type of reader when reading a book can easily visualize a movie in their head, in fact, I don't see anything. I'm the type of reader who will act out or verbally say certain lines because my brain does not compute it into an imaginary movie. However, the challenging scene was SOOOO COOOL. I imagined it gladiator style and Diem is so SICK. My heart genuinely fell into my ass when Luther did what he did, but unlike Diem, I have critical thinking skills and my worries were easily rectified.
Overall, this series BANGS. I've heard this is the best one of the three that have been released so far and while I had a GREAT time, I can't give this a five-star because of how frustrating it was for me to start. I'm really excited to receive book three in the mail, but Hawai'i shipping is awful so I will not see that for a week, and knowing me who knows if I'm going to start it immediately LOL.
I originally heard the final book in the saga would be released a few months ago and then it got pushed back to late July, but to my understanding, it has since gotten pushed back further as the book is no longer an available listing ANYWHERE.
I will gladly await Penn Cole's service as I'm sure the fourth book will blow everyone's mind.
I would absolutely recommend you try this series as long as you have patience. This is a very political fantasy romance and the romance is not very prevalent in book one and even during book two it is mostly tension and slow-burn. If you can handle the politics (it's really not that bad, I'm just preparing you for the worst just in case) and the slow-burn, then YEEHAW, here you go!!!! ...more
This is definitely a women’s fiction instead of a contemporary romance.
You can tell a lot about a book’s genre based on who blurbs it on the cover anThis is definitely a women’s fiction instead of a contemporary romance.
You can tell a lot about a book’s genre based on who blurbs it on the cover and spoiler alert it’s blurbed entirely by women’s fiction/ chick-lit/ contemporary fiction authors.
Essentially, Natalie and Rob are the maid of honor and best man at their best friends’ wedding. Shortly before the wedding begins, Natalie finds out Rob is the reason her book, Apartment 2F got a one-star review. Natalie is struck with imposter syndrome and Rob is upset over her novel these two just don’t get along. However, they spend the next 8+ years with each other as they celebrate their best friends’ milestones together.
Once again, this is a contemporary fiction with a romance plot, but not a romance book. I really thought I’d give this book 4-5 stars because of how AMAZING this book started off with, but by the end I was counting how many pages I had left to be rid of this.
If I went into this book knowing it wasn’t a typical contemporary romance, maybe I would’ve liked it more, but you really have to read the book to understand where I’m coming from. ...more
Probably in the worst reading slump of my life, so giving this book just three stars is definitely a user error. Not much happened, but I know I wouldProbably in the worst reading slump of my life, so giving this book just three stars is definitely a user error. Not much happened, but I know I would have eaten this up if it hadn't taken me all month to even pick this book up. Don't know what's happening with me, but I'm trying my best.
As for this book, I would really recommend reading the novella, Elixir, prior to this book because it makes it so much better. I really think it should have been included in this novel and not as an optional novella.
The romance in here is SO cute, but this book definitely didn't have to be 400 pages. ...more
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